Restless Spirits Read Free Page A

another.”
    “And you believe it’d work? You and me as a couple?” She nibbled her bottom lip.
    “Yeah, I do. I mean, you said yourself on numerous occasions, we’re like peas and carrots. The attraction is obviously there. We’ve pretty much drawn out the blueprints. All we need to do is start building.” The confidence he placed in the words made her smile. This is why he’s one of the best sports agents in the area.
    “It makes me nervous,” she said.
    “Our past?” he said.
    “The intensity.”
    “Some people search their entire lives for a connection like this, and we found it with one lip-lock.”
    She snorted. “Oh, it was much more than that.”
    “Yeah, it was.”
    She giggled at his audible pride.
    “Everything is new. We’ll go slow and figure it out. The cat’s out of the bag, you haven’t slapped me, and the apocalypse hasn’t begun, so already expectations have been exceeded.”
    “You were that worried?” she said.
    “Umm…yeah. I’m well aware of the fact we run in different circles, and some of my interests bore you to death. I was concerned you wouldn’t see past our differences. If we’re both willing, there’s plenty of common ground.”
    “Where? I’m a video-game-designing free spirit who likes anime, cosplay, and cult classics, and you’re a sports agent hooked on outdoor activities, action movies, and fast cars.”
    “Do you think that’s all we are, these labels you’re tossing out willy-nilly?” he asked, countering her excuses.
    “Willy-nilly?” She smirked.
    “Don’t change the subject, D.”
    She sighed. “No, it’s not what I think. I was giving you a generalization of why I’m skeptical.”
    “Where’s the brave girl who made me come in my pants back there, then conned a police officer?”
    Heat dusted her cheeks and moved up into her ears. “She’s still here, just thinking with the brain in her head and not the one below her belt.”
    “Sounds like a case of cold feet.”
    She snorted. “We’re not getting married.”
    “No, but you’re running scared when you weren’t before. Look. If we overthink things, we’ll ruin this weekend. It’s not a mandate we have all the answers now.”
    The soothing baritone calmed her frayed nerves. “Right. I’m jumping the gun.” She took a deep breath.
    “It’s all right. I figured once the freak-out set in you’d start to pull away,” he said. The resignation in his voice wounded her. He expected her to run.
    No matter what, this was still Pierce. He didn’t deserve to be subjected to the bitch who came out when her too-close-for-comfort radar went off. Grateful for the night sky that hid her actions, she wrung her hands. Soon she’d be forced to make some tough decisions. She needed to be sure they were the right ones.

Chapter Three
    Pierce pulled in front of the hotel, and Demi gasped.
    “Oh my God! We’re actually at The Eagle Inn.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “How can I ever repay you?”
    “Just enjoy yourself…and walk in front of me, so they don’t notice my predicament.” He glanced down at the slightly damp blue jeans, and she laughed. The airy sound chased away the tension that lingered in the cab.
    “You ready?”
    “Hell yes!” She unbuckled the seat belt and leaped from the vehicle like a superhero off to save an innocent person from danger. He made his way out, following behind her as she strode into the three-story off-white building with dark green shutters and red trim on the bottom. The circular sign boasted THE EAGLE INN. Large windows lined the front beneath a dark green awning where the structure extended outward to hold the restaurant. An American flag waved in the crisp night air. Opened in the mid-1700s as a tavern, the place had a history of spirits not at rest. They walked into a room with high ceilings and ornamental wood beams. Shades of gray cobblestone lined the walls, and a fireplace against the wall. Carpets done in royal reds and gold